St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-05
DIR. AMES CONTESTS.

Although rum0rS nad Deen flOatl1g afOuIlu
ever since the last state election that Dr..
AMEs would contest Nj. MCGIIL's right to
the gubernatorial office. the subject was not
looked upon Or discussed in serious light
by the public. 1t was therefore matter
OF genuine surprise, with sensational accom-
paniments. when Doctor AMEs walked into
the executive Office at the state capitol yester-
day and filed his oath as the chief executive
officer of the commonwealth of Minnesota.
The work of the state caGvaSSlng board had
just been completed and the certificate OF
election handed over to Mr.. MCGILL. DR..
AMES explained his conduct as the assertion
of right he believed himself entitled to and
necessary preliminary step toward con-
testing by an action of QUO warranto i'll the
supreme court the title held by Mr.. MCGILL
to the office Of governor.
The legal aspects of the contest are not
proper subjects for newspaper discussion. i'll
asmuch as they are soon to be subjected to
judicial determination. It is competent,
however, to speak of the contestants ind-
vidual motives and of the causes which
have induced him to appeal to the courts.
DR.. AMEs has simply exercised an indivd-
ual right which is guaranteed to every citi-
zen of this repubic-to the humbleSt as
well as to the highest-the right of protect
ing his own interests. If he has reason to
believe that he was elected to the office of
governor and was defrauded of his title to
it, then it is not only his right. but it be-
comes his duty. to contest the election. This
is government where the people are the
sovereignS. There can be no higher law
than the voice of the majority. There can
be no more Infamous crime than to rob the
people of their sovereignty.
If Dr. AAtES has in possession evidence
showing that fraud was practiced in the
election and that he has been counted out
of an office to which he was fairly elected,
he would not be a good and loyal citizen if
he did not seek the opportunity to make a
public revelation CT the facts.
If he is in possession of no such evidence
and cannot show that he has reasonable
ground for contest he is treading on dan
gelous ground. so far as he is Individually
concerned. The people of Minnesota re-
spect law and love justice, but they will not
tolerate sensatiOnaliSm.
The GLOBE is prepared to believe that
DR.. AMEs is sincere in the belief that he
has been elected governor of the state. AL
though he has wisely kept his counsels to
himself and has not untolded his case tc
any one except his attorneys. we are pre-
pared to believe that he has substantial
ground to enter contest.
Having been honored by the Democratic
party with its highest nomination, it would
be impossible for DR.. AAIEs to take any
step that would compromise his party il
public estimation.
His own sense of propriety and the ben
of his ambitious mind would readily sug
gesJ the folly of embarking in a contes
which could not possibly enhance his pros
poets for future political preferment. blu
which would assuredly fix his politica
damnation forever.
Therefore in the light of all these facts
we are prepared for some interesting rev
Citations when the whole matter is exposed
to the judicial eve